APD > Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (MIG)

The Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (MIG) is funded by The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Florida was initially awarded the Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (MIG) in 2006. MIG will continue through 2011, at which time Congress shall decide whether to renew the program. The specific objective of the Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (MIG) is to support efforts by states to enhance employment options for people with disabilities by building Medicaid infrastructure. Funding may be used to develop a Medicaid buy-in, increase availability of Personal Assistance Services, plan a Demonstration to Maintain the Independence and Employment Program, or for State-to-State technical assistance. While proposals submitted by the States vary, States participating in this grant program will use the funds to remove the barriers to employment of persons with disabilities by creating health systems change through the Medicaid program.

The development or enhancement of certain core Medicaid components in each State would enable people with disabilities not only to work, but to sustain adequate health coverage if they find they need to relocate to another State for employment purposes. Continuity of health coverage is an important principle which Congress has emphasized in other legislation as well, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). An adequate personal assistance services benefit and a Medicaid buy-in for employed people with disabilities are, therefore, significant components of the Ticket-to-Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act. The infrastructure grants program provides money to States to develop these core elements.

Funds may not be used for the direct provision of services to people with disabilities except on a one-time, last resort, emergency basis for the purpose of sustaining the individual's competitive employment.

In 2009, Florida’s fourth year of MIG, the following activities will be made possible through MIG funding:

APD will provide training conducted by national experts in both Supported Employment and Social Security Work Incentives as follows: (Click on trainings below for details)

• 5 sessions of Waiver Support Coordinator Supported Employment training
• 5 sessions of Waiver Support Coordinator Social Security Work Incentives training
• 5 sessions of Advanced Supported Employment training
• 5 sessions of Advanced Social Security Work Incentives training
• ADT SE training in 3 ADTs (6 days per ADT)
• Supported Employment Management Training
• Train-the-Trainer Supported Employment training
• Train-the-Trainer Social Security Work Incentives training
• 3-day Advanced FBIRN training
• Train-the-Trainer Medicaid Buy-In
• Florida Benefits Information Resource Network Training

In addition to providing the above MIG funded training by national experts, MIG Employment Coordinators (certified by the national experts to conduct APD approved SE and SSWI training sessions) will provide the following training and educational services statewide: (Click on trainings below for details.)

• 4-day Pre-Service curriculum for the certification of supported employment providers.
• Variety of 1- 4 hour informational session "Maintain Your Benefits and Work Too" tailored specifically for the intended audience will be conducted by MIG Employment Coordinators and FBIRN members who are also certified to do so.
• Provide education and information regarding the proposed 2009 Medicaid Buy-In legislation and its potential benefit to employed persons with disabilities.
• Provide education and information regarding the availability of Personal Care Assistance (PCA) services for employment purposes in various Florida waivers.
• Enhance the Agency’s Supported Employment Tracking System (SETS).
• Continued Development and Support for the MIG Task Force.
• Provide technical support and assistance to the Business Leadership Networks throughout Florida.
• Provide ongoing participation and support in the creation and implementation of the National Marketing Campaign focusing on employers. Health and Disability Advocates (HDA) are working on this project along with the communications firm "Wirestone." More info is available on HDA’s website at http://www.hdadvocates.org.